Firefox: Security Never Looked So GoodFirefox: Security Never Looked So Good

Although Firefox 1.0 has only been out for a few days, this open-source solution has been a mainstay alternative to the Redmond-based browser for over two years as a beta product under various names.

Firefox uses the same Gecko rendering engine as the Mozilla Web browser, with the added benefit of a fast-track development cycle. Originally named Phoenix and then Firebird, Firefox has finally reached version 1.0.

The first Firefox milestone, 0.1, was released on September 23, 2004, when it was still called Phoenix. I started testing Firefox when it reached version 0.4, about two months later. At that time, I was using Mozilla almost exclusively. But over the past two years, Firefox has caught and surpassed its sibling, and I've completely migrated from Mozilla, using Firefox as my main browser.

With this experience under my belt, I took a quick look at Firefox 1.0. And while there are other products that incorporate some of these features, I know of no other browser that can match Firefox's combination of features, compatibility, extendibility and price.

Topping my list of reasons for adopting Firefox 1.0 is security. Take, for example, its lack of support for ActiveX controls. Although a limiting factor for organizations relying on ActiveX-based applications, this also means Firefox will be very limited in the types of viral and Trojan infections it can pass on to a computer. Moreover, unlike some browsers, Firefox is not integrated into the operating system. Security and feature updates occur frequently, without the need of an operating system update.

Feature-rific
There are many other, more productive aspects of Firefox 1.0 that I found beneficial. Here are a few of my favorite things.